Bulawayo_station_pilot_12_177__NBL__27_10_1973.jpg (105995 bytes)

Bulawayo_station_pilot_12 177. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Rhodesian Railways Class 12 No.177 (NBL 23378/1926) is busily employed as station pilot at Bulawayo, on 27th October 1973. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

Bulawayo_station_pilots_12_177_+_190_27_10_1973.jpg (128193 bytes)

Bulawayo_station_pilots_12_177_&_190. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Bulawayo station on 27th October 1973, where two Class 12 4-8-2 were at work on pilot duties. Nearest, No.177 (NBL 23378/1926), was station pilot, No.190 (NBL 23391/1926), carriage pilot. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

Gwelo_shed_12_254_27_10_1973.jpg (158160 bytes)

Gwelo_shed_12_254. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Situated roughly half-way between Bulawayo and Salisbury, the town of Gwelo was by 1973, the change-over point for steam and diesel. Accordingly, Gwelo depot was slowly being wound-down for housing active steam, as evidenced by this picture from 27th October 1973. Class 12 No.254 (NBL 24003/1930) was not in use, neither was the accompanying, unidentified Class 14A Beyer Garratt. Just visible behind the steam locomotives are the roofs of a pair of Class 8E diesels which had brought trains from Salisbury, for going forward behind steam, to Bulawayo. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com